Apparatus for drafting and twisting fibers

ABSTRACT

In a machine for drafting staple fibers into yarn including a plurality of vertically spaced sets of drafting rolls, each set including at least two driven drafting rolls, each set including at least two driven drafting rolls and associated cot rolls in a nip forming relationship, and removable double apron assemblies positioned between adjacent sets of drafting rolls all mounted to the machine frame, a jet twister for consolidating the fibers and a windup for the yarn, an apparatus for improving the handling of fibers during drafting. The apparatus comprises a forked arm mounting a pair of cot rolls for rotation, a multi-point linkage connecting the forked arm to the frame, providing for spacial movement of said cot rolls with respect to the axis of their companion rolls, a pneumatic cylinder with a regulated, pressurized source of fluid connected between the frame and the linkage for regulating the force exerted by the cot roll on the draft roll, and an elongated slotted guide freely riding the nip and adjacent areas of the draft and cot rolls, said guide being contoured to fit said areas and having a fibrous surface adjacent the roll surfaces for cleaning the roll surfaces. An enclosure around the jet is provided with a coanda surface below the jet to direct fluid exiting the jet away from the yarn path.

United States Patent 91 Hiserman, Jr. et al.

[4 Apr. 17, 1973 TWISTING FIBERS [75] Inventors: Franklin Raymond Hiserman, .ln, Waynesboro; Keith Harold Turle Staunton, both of Va. Q

[73] Assignee: E. l. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del.

[22] Filed: Nov. 4, 1971 211 App]. No.: 195,573

52 vs. C]. ..57/36, 19/250, 19/255, 19/272, 19/288, 57/51 [51] Int. Cl. ..D0lh 5/26, DOlh 5/52, DOlh 5/72 [58] Field of Search ..19/244, 250, 255',

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,926,475 9/1933 Casablancas 19/292 2,230,399 2/1941 Brandt et a1. ..19/244 X 2,472,929 6/1949 Weinberger ..19/291 2,591,866 4/1952 Pope ..l9/291 2,704,863 3/1955 MacDonald .....19/250 3,041,677 7/1962 Butler ..19/267 3,045,291 7/1962 Arakawa .....l9/250 3,076,237 2/1963 Newton. .....19/281 3,079,746 3/ 1963 Field, Jr ..57/51 3,341,901 9/1967 Kitamura ..19/250 3,438,094 4/1969 Field, Jr. ..19/288 APPARATUS FOR DRAFI'ING AND Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Attorney-Howard P. West, Jr.

[ ABSTRACT In a machine for drafting staple fibers into yarn including a plurality of vertically spaced sets of drafting rolls, each set including at least two driven drafting rolls, each set including at least two driven drafting rolls and associated cot rolls in a nip forming relationship, .and removable double apron assemblies positioned between adjacent sets of drafting rolls all mounted to the machine frame, a jet twister for consolidating the fibers and a windup for the yarn, an apparatus for improving the handling of fibers during drafting. The apparatus comprises a forked arm mounting a pair of cot rolls for rotation, a multi-point linkage connecting the forked arm to the frame, providing for spacial movement of said cot rolls with respect to the axis of their companion rolls, a pneumatic cylinder with a regulated, pressurized source of fluid connected between the frame and the linkage for regulating the force exertedby the cot roll on the draft roll, and an elongated slotted guide freely riding the nip and adjacent areas of the draft and cot rolls,

said guide being contoured to fit said areas and having a fibrous surface adjacent the roll surfaces for cleaning the roll surfaces. An enclosure around the jet is provided with a coanda surface below the jet to direct fluid exiting the jet away from the yarn path.

5 Claim, 11 Drawing Figures PATENIE A R 1 H913 v 3.727. 391

INVENTO S FRANKLIN RAYMOND HISERIAN, JR. KEITH HAROLD TURLEY BY W Ida/M6 ATTORNEY b m m. Q

FRANKLIN RAYMOND RISERNAN, JR KEITH HAROLD TURLEY PATENTED APR! 7 I975 PATENTEBAPR 1 7197s SHEET 3 or 3 INVENTORS FRANKLIN RAYMOND HISERIAN, JR KEITH HAROLD TURLEY ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR DRAFTING AND TWISTING FIBERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to textile processing apparatus for directly converting a sliver of staple fibers into usable yarn structure. Specifically, this invention applies to apparatus for drafting a textile sliver in two stages between three sets of drafting rolls with associated cots wherein double apron assemblies are employed between the drafting roll sets and'located in the drafting zones for proper control of fibers during drafting. Means for consolidating the thus drafted sliver into a yarn and means for winding the yarn onto package supports are also related to this invention. The means for consolidation may be either a true twisting mechanism typical of many conventional staple yarn spinning frames or a fluid jet processing means such as disclosed by Field in U. S. Pat. Nos. 3,079,746 and 3,438,094.

The preferred embodiment of this invention is described in relation to two stage drafting. In some situations drafting may be limited to single stage. For this, only two sets of drafting rolls with associated cots are required.'Then only one apron assembly for each sliver line is required. Single stage drafting may be appropriate when processing highly predrafted sliver or when a soft partially drafted yarn is desired.

Prior art drafting and winding machines have long been successfully used in the production of staple yarn, and from time-to-time various improvements have been made to improve their efficiency and ability to control the sliver being processed such. as the use of power driven creels, pneumatic loading of the rolls and readily removable long-draft apron assemblies. However, there remains a need for further improvement, particularly, with respect to high speed processing fine denier per filament synthetic fiber slivers and the present invention fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A machine for drafting staple fibers into yarn com: prising top, mid and cage drafting rolls, each with associated cot rolls in a nip forming relationship, and removable double apron assemblies positioned between top and mid and mid and cage drafting rolls all mounted to the machine frame includes the following additional features for improving the handling of fibers during drafting: a forked arm mounting a pair of adjacent cot rolls for rotation; a multipoint linkage connecting said forked arm and said frame, said linkage providing for spacial movement of said cot rolls with respect to the axis of their companion drafting rolls; means connected between the frame and the linkage for regulating the force exerted by a cot roll on a draft roll; an elongated,floating guide freely riding the nip and adjacent surface areas of the mid roll and cot roll, said floating guide being contoured to fit said areas and having a slot extending through the nip line and a chute guide positioned adjacent the nip of the apron assembly below the mid roll.

Although the apparatus sometimes is constructed and arranged so that each sliver line has independent cot roll and apron mounting arrangements, a preferred construction has been found which is less expensive and more easily maintainable. This comprises com-' bined roll and apron assemblies which are provided in minimum-separation. These combined assemblies then are removable. This latter arrangement comprises the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of this invention even though elements of the invention are applicable to independent as well as combined arrangements.

In this preferred arrangement, three assemblies of four cots each are provided for the top roll, mid roll and bottom or delivery roll locations, respectively. The

0 cots are mounted in a double acting pivot type arbor to provide self-alignment of and equal loading for each cot with its individual roll. The arbor is mounted on a first pivot perpendicular to the plane including the axis of the cots and that of the associated roll and in a plane closely approaching the nip between the cots and associated rolls. Each pair of cots is mounted on one of a pair of second pivots located between the appropriate pair of cots, parallel to the first pivot and also close to the nip between the cots and the associated rolls. Clearance are provided so that the axes of the cots can pivot about its associated second pivot by an amount needed to provide self-alignment.v The arbor is mounted on a third pivot and a pneumatic cylinder means is arranged to force the cots against their appropriate rolls by a predetermined constant force.

Theintegrated apron assemblies which include both front andrear aprons are provided with upper and lower locking arrangements and positioning features so that the assembly can be removed, repaired and accurately reinstalled on the machine without stopping the machine or disturbing adjacent positions. Each apron and each assembly is provided with individual tracking guides and tensioning rollers or surfaces. Means are provided to adjust the nip force between each pair of aprons at their top. Individual, adjustable nose bars of wear resistant material are provided front and rear.

An enclosure is provided around the location of each jet twisting means and comprises a coanda backplate behind and below the jet and a curved door in front of the jet shaped to improve scavenging of steam from the jet by a low pressure plenum. Surfaces of enclosure may be coated with an antisticking material such as Teflon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall schematic end view of one position of a drafting and winding machine according to this invention; 7

FIG. 2 is a partial schematic elevational face view of FIG. 1 showing roll and apron assemblies for handling four ends;

FIG. 3 is a plan view, with duplicate parts removed, of the double acting pivot' arbor for a cot assembly;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of means for mounting cot arbors and holding cots against appropriate rolls by means of an air cylinder;

FIG. 5 is an exploded vertical cross-sectional view of an integrated apron assembly and companion machine elements showing means for positioning and clamping the assembly and means for regulating relation'between apron drive rolls;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, with parts broke away, of an integral apron assembly;

FIG. 7 is a perspective .view of the preferred type of floating guide.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate type of floating guide;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional end view of an enclosure .for an exhaust arrangement associated with a twister FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a string-up chute with integral guide located adjacent the nip of an apron assembly. I

FIG. 1 1 is a partial front elevation of FIG. 10 with the front apron removed to show the guide notches in the chute.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Although most of the features of this invention are applicable to the general drafting and winding machine for producing yarn from a sliver, the preferred embodiment will be described in connection with a drafting and winding machine wherein a fluid jet processing means is used to provide consolidation of the fibers into a stable yarn configuration. Thus, by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a sliver 10 extends from a source, not shown, over a creel assembly 20. Creel comprises two or more positively driven creel feed rolls 22, 24 (with hexagonal cross-section) and two creel guide bars 26, 28. The driving mechanism for rolls 22, 24 comprises chain and sprocket arrangements, not shown, but indicated schematically by dotted lines 32, 34 which connect these two rolls with the top roll of the drafting and winding machine. This drive arrangement enables synchronization of the creel feeding rate with the surface speed of top roll 40 and sprocket sizes may be preselected to provide under or overfeed as required.

A first trumpet guide 36 of generally conventional design is placed with its lower exit end adjacent the nip between top roll- 40 and an associated cot 42. Cot 42 or an associated group of cots in'the case of a multi-end machine is mounted from the machine frame, not shown, by means of a cot mounting assembly to be described in detail below by reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

' A second trumpet guide 38, of identical design to the first trumpet guide 36 is provided adjacent the nip of first integrated apron assembly 60. I

'A first floating nip guide is located adjacent the nip between mid roll and its associated cot 82. Details of this guide are given below by reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. This guide is called a floating guide because it is shaped so as to ride on the surfaces of roll 80 and cot 82. A second floating guide 70 may be located at the nip of a second integrated apron assembly 100. However, in the preferred embodiment a chute guide 90, as described below by reference to FIG. 10, is placed above the nip of apron assembly 100 and guide 70 is not used. Chute guide provides positive guiding .of sliver into the apron nip. Apron assemblies 60 and are described in more detail below by reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The'apron in these assemblies'are gear driven from jack shafts, not shown, journaled to the machine frame.

Immediately below apron assembly 100 and as close as possible to the lower end of this assembly, is the nip An aspirating means is located below the roll set 1 10, 112 and shaped so as to project close to the exit of the nip between these two rolls. Immediately. below the exit from aspiration means 120 there is located an enclosure (described in more detail below. by

reference to FIG. 9) and a twisting jet assembly 125 contained therein. Jet means 125 follows the teaching of Field in U.S. Pat. No. 3,079,746.

Just below the exit from enclosures 130, there are located two yarn guides 135, 136 and a brokenyarn detector 140 with its yarn sensor 142 located therebetween. A control line 145 extends from yarn break detector 140 to the pneumatic bobbin arm mover located with its output rod adjacent-bobbin support arm in between pivot 156 and windup bobbin 160 and arranged to move bobbin 160 to and from contact with windup drive roll 161. 1

In basic respects, the trumpet guides 36, 38 are substantially conventional and may be mounted on a hinge arrangement on the face of the drafting and winding machine in such a way that they can be swung up and away from the normal path of the sliver being processed, but, in operating position, fit closely adjacent roll nips by virtue of their bevelled lower ends.

Cot rolls 42, 82 and l 12 are mounted in a pivoted assembly and forced against the appropriate working roll 40, 80 or 1 10 by a pneumatic lever assembly such as indicated at 50 in FIG. 1. Details of this assembly are shown in F I68. 3 and 4. In the preferred apparatus of this invention, a given integratedunit assembly of the t machine is arranged to process four separate slivers into four separate yarns along adjacent vertical lines (FIG. 2). A double acting pivot arbor is provided (FIG. 3) for supporting cot rolls 42. Since the arbor assembly is symmetrical about a central pivot 421 only two cot rolls 42 are shown. The arbor isseen to comprise a central arm 422 to which is fastened a bridging arm 423 that in turn supports a forked arm 424 from'one end and a similar forked arm, not shown, from the other end. Forked arm 424 is constructed to-receive a pivot of delivery roll 110 and its associated'cot 112. The 1 delivery roll 1 l0 follows the design principles taught by Field in U.S. Pat. No. 3,487,619.

425 near the outer ends of the two tines 426 of the fork. One tine 426 is shown cut away in order to reveal structure in between the two fork tines. Thus, a plate 427 is mounted on pivot 425 in between the tines 426 of forked arm 424. A double stub shaft 428 is fastened in a bore provided in plate 427 so that shaft 428 extends symmetrically on both of the sides of this plate in a direction perpendicular to arm 424 and therefore shaft 428 is pivotable about pivot 42S. Cots 42 are mounted on shafts 428 by means of bearings 429 and held by conventional spacers andvsnap rings. A bore 430 extending through shafts 428 provides centering means for holding this assembly of cots in a jig'when it is desired to grind their surfaces during times of main-- tenance. 1

Pivots 421 and 425 are located in close to a vertical plane passing through the nips of the cots and their associated working rolls such as between cot 42 and roll 40 o'f FIG. 1 in order to provide the most efficient selfcentering action wherein each cot assumes a position with its axis parallel to its associated working roll. Pivot 421 is mounted in an arm which is pivoted from another arm extending out from the machine frame in sucha way that an air piston is employed to force the arbor and hence the cots toward the associated working rolls in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 4.

A simplified illustration of the pneumatic actuated cot mounting assembly 50 is shown in FIG. 4. This assembly provides for the mounting of two cots or two pairs of cots. One cot 42 is shown extending back from the plane of the paper and the other, not shown, extends in front of the plane of the paper of FIG. 4. An arm 431 is attached at one end to the frame 200 of the drafting and winding machine. A pivot 432 extends horizontally through the other end of arm 431 and parallel to the face of machine frame 200 as well as parallel to the axis of working roll 40. A second arm 433 is pivotably mounted on pivot 432 so that it extends both above and below this pivot. A slot 434 is provided in the upper end of arm 433 and is arranged to receive the shaft 435 on which are mounted cot 42 and its companion twin eot, not shown. At the other end of arm 433 there is mounted a pivot 436 which also carries the linkage 437 from piston 438 of pneumatic cylinder 439 which in turn is mounted to machine frame 200. Thus, by providing a controlled level of air pressure to cylinder 439, cot roll 42 and its companion cot can be forced equally against working rolls 40 by a well-regulated force in contrast to a changing force often provided by spring mountings due to relaxation in spring materials and variation in spring gradients. This new design alleviates such malfunctioning of the old design as loss of draft, poor yarn evenness, etc.

Another important novel feature of the improved drafting and winding machine of this invention is the provision of integrated apron assemblies 60, 100 (FIGS. 5 and 6). These assemblies as will be described, incorporate means for positioning and locking of the apron assembly to the drafting and winding machine frame and means to resiliently load one apron drive roll against the second apron drive roll near the top of the assembly.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross section of the apron assembly taken through the center of the assembly from its lowest portion up to the mounting for the apron guide roller shafts at which location the vertical section is shifted slightly from the center line of the assembly in order to show details of the spring loading feature. The locking features are shown in their closed position but with the assembly exploded away from the corresponding elements of the machine frame in order to clarify the details of this structure.

Thus,,in FIG. 5 there is shown attached to the machine frame 200 in a position slightly below that of hook 201. A bottom locking arm 205 with its appropriate shaped slot 206 is fixed to frame 200 at an appropriate position to receive a lower element of the apron assembly locking means. Companion locking and positioning features of the integrated apron assembly include an eccentric pull-in cam 601 adjacent a cam receiving face 602 on a boss fastened to the frame of the assembly. A shaped cam operating handle 603 with handle extension 604 extends on the other side of a pivot 605 from cam 601. Pivot 605 extends beyond the cam assembly to provide a shaft which fits in rounded slot 202. A positioning boss 606 with a machined surface 607 is provided as shown at an appropriate location on the internal frame of the apron assembly. Near the lower extremity of the apron assembly is located a pivot pin 608 with a flattened portion 609 and an operating handle and locking finger 610. Thus, with handle 603 rotated clockwise and handle 610 rotated counter-clockwise to appropriate positions, pivot pin 608 can be inserted into slot 206 and pivot 605 in slot 202. Then when handle 610 is rotated clockwise, it locks the assembly to the bottom locking am 205. When am 603 is rotated counter-clockwise, it pulls the assembly in toward the machine frame so that the machined surfaces 607 and 204 are brought together and precisely locate the apron assembly relative to the drafting and winding machine. At the same time, gears, not shown, associated with, e.g., roll 612 are meshed with toothed portions of a power driven jack shaft journaled to frame 200. Handle extension 604 is shaped and positioned so that when arm 603 is in the pull-in position the extension 604 contacts locking finger 610 and holds it firmly in place.

Outer apron drive roll 61 l and inner apron drive roll 612 are shown mounted on respective shafts 613 and 614 in appropriate slots in the frame of the apron assembly. In order to yieldably force shaft 613 in a direction toward shaft 614 and provide desired nip force between the apron carried around 611 and that carried around 612, a shapedrod 615 having one end curved to fit against shaft 613 and the other end shaped to receive coil spring 616 is adjustably forced thereon by turning set screw 617. Additional set screws 618 and 619 are provided to hold shafts 613 and 614 in retracted positions when set screw 617 is backed out to relieve nip tension at the time it is desired to change one or moreaprons.

Two further features of the integrated apron assemblies can be seen by reference to FIG. 6. In the first place, apron tensioning and guiding is provided by a flanged spool 620 mounted inside each apron in an adjusting slot 621 by means of knurled nuts 622 tightened onto threaded studsextending through the spool and to the side frames 623 of the apron assembly. Finally, adjustable nose bars 624 are provided with slots and fastening arrangements 625, 626 positioned and shaped toprovide vertical and angular adjustment of the bottom end of the nose bar relative to top or drive end.

The preferred design of the floating guideis shown in FIG. 7 associated apron assembly 100. The floating guide includes a slotted plate 710, two spaced upstanding arms 712, 714 shaped at section 716 to fit the contour of the nip of the apron rolls.

An alternate design of a floating nip guide is shown in some detail in FIG. 8. This guide 70' is seen to have a generally rectangular silhouette from above and to be provided with two curved wings 701, 702 shaped to fit the contour of the rolls on which they are designed to ride or float in close proximity to the nip of the rolls, Wings '701, 702 meet at a nip line 703. A sliver guiding slot 705 extends from the outside edge of wing 702.up

to and beyond nip line 703 and into wing 701. Two contoured fillets 704, are formed above nip line 703 partially filling in the valley between the two wings 701, 702. These not only provide rigidity to the guide structure but also reduce the tendency of the guide to accumulate lint in the valley area. Frequently, the concave bottom surfaces of the wings 701, 702 are covered with a fibrous flock or feltto provide a lint cleaning action on the rolls on which the floating guide may be placed.

131 which is attached to the top portion by hinge 133.

A coanda backplate 132 provides the rear portion of the enclosure. A curved bottom surface 134 completes the enclosure. A stringup slot is provided in the lower edge of door 131. Exhaust chamber 300 is connected to an exhaust plenum 302 running the length of the machine through a screen arrangement 301. In FIGS. 10 and 11, chute guide 90 is shown adjacent the nip of apron assembly 100. Guide 90 comprises a V-shaped body with sides converging downward and with a rounded guide notch 91 cut into the bottom end .of the chute at the apex of the V.

What is claimed is: I

1. In a machine for drafting staple fibers into yarn including top, mid and delivery drafting rolls, each with associated cot rolls in a nip forming relationship, and removable double apron assemblies positionedbetween top and mid and mid and delivery drafting linkage connecting said forked arm and said frame, said linkage providing for spacial movement of said cot rolls with respect to the axis of their companion drafting rolls; means connected between the frame and the linkage for regulating the force exerted by a cot roll on a draft roll; an elongated guide freely riding the nip and' adjacent surface areas of the mid draft associated cot roll, said guide being contoured to fit said areas and having a slot extending through the nip line of said draft and cot rolls; and a V-shaped chute guide positioned above the apron assembly between the mid and delivery rolls.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, said means for regulating the force exerted by the cot roll on the draft roll being a pneumatic cylinder connected between the frame and the linkage and a source of variable pressurized fluid connected to the cylinder.

3. The machine as defined in claim 2, including the following additional elementsz a jet positioned below the last set of drafting rolls in a yarn line for consolidating the yarn; and' a windup for the yarn.

4. The apparatus as defined inclaim 3, including an enclosure around said jet, said enclosure having openings in line with the entrance and exit of the jet and an exhaust opening; and acoanda surface leading 1 away from the exit of the jet toward said exhaust openrolls, all mounted to themachine frame, an apparatus a for improving the handling of fibers during drafting, said apparatus comprising: a forked arm mounting a pair of adjacent cot rolls for rotation; a multi-point ing.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim '1, said spacial movement being two-dimensional lateral movement with respect to the axis of the draft roll. 

1. In a machine for drafting staple fibers into yarn including top, mid and delivery drafting rolls, each with associated cot rolls in a nip forming relationship, and removable double apron assemblies positioned between top and mid and mid and delivery drafting rolls, all mounted to the machine frame, an apparatus for improving the handling of fibers during drafting, said apparatus comprising: a forked arm mounting a pair of adjacent cot rolls for rotation; a multi-point linkage connecting said forked arm and said frame, said linkage providing for spacial movement of said cot rolls with respect to tHe axis of their companion drafting rolls; means connected between the frame and the linkage for regulating the force exerted by a cot roll on a draft roll; an elongated guide freely riding the nip and adjacent surface areas of the mid draft associated cot roll, said guide being contoured to fit said areas and having a slot extending through the nip line of said draft and cot rolls; and a V-shaped chute guide positioned above the apron assembly between the mid and delivery rolls.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, said means for regulating the force exerted by the cot roll on the draft roll being a pneumatic cylinder connected between the frame and the linkage and a source of variable pressurized fluid connected to the cylinder.
 3. The machine as defined in claim 2, including the following additional elements: a jet positioned below the last set of drafting rolls in a yarn line for consolidating the yarn; and a windup for the yarn.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, including an enclosure around said jet, said enclosure having openings in line with the entrance and exit of the jet and an exhaust opening; and a coanda surface leading away from the exit of the jet toward said exhaust opening.
 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, said spacial movement being two-dimensional lateral movement with respect to the axis of the draft roll. 